28-30 October 2008
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola School of Theology, Quezon City
The Asian Christian Art Association (ACAA) sponsored conference entitled “Art, Theology and Imagination”, held at the Loyola School of Theology left artists and theologians like with insights and reflections. ACAA, together with Tutok: Karapatan, an group of artists advocating human rights, and the Loyola School of Theology, devised the conference as an opportunity for artists and theologians to have a dialogue and in effect create discussions and disturbances from both parties. The conference aims to construct an understanding of both parties on how each can help in honing their craft.
It is well known that the world of art is vastly populated by religious images, made strange by the artist’s imagination: depositions, pieta, Madonna and child, Christ Ascending, even narratives from the Bible survive the artist’s rendition of the incredulity of Thomas, or the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Theologians on the other hand, feel the need to add an artistic dimension in expressing faith, either in songs, dances, liturgies, and most especially, an articulateness to contextualize religion.
In “Art, Theology and Imagination,” both parties were given the opportunity to converse with each other. Participants came from different parts of the country and from different religious sectors and artist organizations. The conference started with the lecture on church history by Dr. Ferdinand Anno from the Union Theological Seminary (Philippines), a way creating a chronological framework of the church as institution and the fundamental difference between Christianity and Christendom. Dr. Anna Skagersten, from the Church of Sweden, talked on bridging theology to art and art to theology to create a visual map of culture to wrap up the first day of the workshop. She also stress on juxtaposition of opposites– i.e. their necessary coexsistence.
The second day of the workshop started with Dr. Rod Pattenden’s lecture on the many faces of Christ in different cultures. His lecture started with a dance interpretation of the many struggles of humanity, issues from the center and voices from the margins and how each paints a portrait of Christ. Dr. Alice Guillermo’s lecture on the religion, society, art, ideologies and politics is an interesting study of some paintings and murals from different artist organizations depicting social realism.
The participants were divided into groups afterwards and were given blank canvases. Groups consist of artists and theologians, were encouraged to interact with each other and come up with an artwork that exemplifies the face of Christ in this time, place and age.
The last day of the conference started with Fr. Rene Javellana’s lecture on Christianity, culture and faith. Fr. Javellana talked about the indistinct and sometimes interchangeable definitions of culture and faith, with an historical approach starting from the 1st century up to the post-post-modern times. The workshop concluded with the presentation of the artworks created by the group collaborations, each explaining the logos of their creation and how the workshop influenced their imaginings.
Tutok: Karapatan also launched an exhibition titled “Tutok: Kristo” at the Loyola School of Theology lobby. The exhibition was curated by Buen Calubayan and featured works by Tutok: Karapatan artists.